It didn't appear to be any panic buying or runs on household necessities Friday, but there were people in Hilo stores preparing for the possible arrival of Hurricane Felicia.

At the downtown KTA Super Store, shelves were stocked with Spam, rice, toilet paper and bottled water -- all popular items when folks are expecting a possible emergency.
Anna Tailan of Hilo wheeled her shopping cart, which contained a case of half-liter bottles of Dasani water, on sale for $5.99 a case, to a checkout stand. She asked the clerk about 20-pound bags of rice, which were also on sale.
"We're camping out this weekend at Puhi Bay," Tailan said. Asked if she was worried about a possible hurricane, Tailan replied, "No, not really."
"Not a bad idea to stock up, though," she said. "Hawaiian Homes came down (to Puhi Bay) this morning and moved the (automobile barriers) in case we have to evacuate."
At the downtown Sack ’n’ Save, a portion of the shelf space devoted to toilet paper was conspicuously empty, evidence of brisk sales. Toilet paper was on sale, as were Spam, 20-pound bags of rice and Dasani bottled water -- at the same case price as KTA. There were ample supplies of all those commodities.
No shoppers were seen at either supermarket with quantities of goods that indicated hoarding.
Gas stations around Hilo appeared busy, but not abnormally so.
Hurricane Felicia had weakened slightly at midday today and forecasters said it could be downgraded to a tropical story tonight or tomorrow.
Even if it weakens as expected, the storm could still bring heavy rains, high surf and possible flash flooding Monday through Wednesday, forecasters have said. And the Big Island will be the first island to experience the effects.
Bob Sumner-Mack of Piçihonua bought a gas camp stove and a 20-pound cylinder of propane at Hilo Ace Hardware.
"I came down here to buy a stove and propane to fulfill my requirements for the 'hurricane preparedness kit,'" he said, adding that he was prompted to do so by his wife.
"My wife is in a water aerobics class with a bunch of other women," he said. "They all have their hurricane kits. My wife said, 'These women are all prepared, but we're not.'"
Cy Takahama, an Ace Hardware supervisor, said there has been a steady stream of customers stocking up to weather a possible storm. He said that propane, tarps and batteries of all sizes are in demand.
"We've got a lot stocked," he said.
At Home Depot, customers entering the store were greeted by a hand-lettered sign inquiring, "Are you ready for Hurricane Felicia?" The sign depicted palm trees bending in the wind, shedding their coconuts. It was accompanied by stocks of flashlights with batteries, candle lighters, matches, masking tape, insulated water bottles, plastic gasoline cans, rain ponchos and other items suitable for a hurricane kit.
Ernie Williamson, the tool rental department head at Home Depot, said people have been stocking up on propane. He noted that it was a little too early for storm-related generator rentals.
"As soon as it's predicted that a storm is imminent in 24 hours, then we'll start to see people coming in for generators," he said. "If that happens, the hotels down on the waterfront will also come in for water pumps to pump water out of their parking lots."